Production details released for BMW i3

The BMW i3 will be released later this month, but the official production details have just been released and have shown that the first mass-produced electric car from the German manufacturer is an entirely new build, from the ground up.

The i3 will be based on the manufacturer’s unique ‘LifeDrive’ vehicle architecture, incorporating a mostly aluminium chassis and a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic passenger cell and a new electric motor.

This electric motor will send 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. The German automaker claims that the i3 is capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h in 7.2 seconds – this is a time comparable with smaller petrol-powered models such as the Volkswagen Polo GTI or the Ford Fiesta ST – with an electronically limited top speed of 150km/h.

According to BMW the fully charged i3 will have a range of 130-160km in what they call ‘everyday driving conditions’.

A complete charging using a standard domestic power socket will take up to eight hours, however the battery can be charged in less than 30 minutes by using a fast charger.

The German manufacturer says that the i3 features an unequalled level of information exchange between the vehicle, the driver and the outside world.

The vehicle will come with an integrated SIM card providing access to the company’s ConnectedDrive services, which include satellite navigation optimized for EV driving with pedestrian and public transport directions.

The safety system of the i3 incorporates active cruise control as well as a collision warning system that will operate till 60km/h. The system is capable of deliver maximum braking if required to avoid a stationary or moving vehicle or pedestrian.

You can also get a fully automated Parking Assistant as an option, which will allow the driver to hand over complete control of the throttle, brake and steering to the vehicle’s central computer.

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